LAKE LUZERNE -- Betty Cranston pulled her wheelchair up to her kitchen table as her adult son David heated up tomato soup for their lunch.

Looking through a doorway into the living room, she saw her house plants -- about a dozen she nurtured until almost three years ago when she was taken ill and institutionalized.

"The plants have grown so," she said. "It's great to be home."

Until Wednesday, Betty was stuck in a downstate nursing home where she was held against her will. Betty, who needs a respirator to breathe freely, wanted to go home to visit with neighbors, to be with family, to socialize with church members, and be a part of community life in Lake Luzerne.

But nursing home officials and a tangle of red tape blocked her release for over 18 months.

Betty's homecoming Wednesday was busy with home health aides and respiratory therapists checking out her respiratory equipment.

But it was much calmer than demonstrations that dozens of protesters from statewide disabled advocacy organizations held in Albany in February. Protesters chanted "Free Betty Cranston," as they took over Gov. George Pataki's office lobby and blocked entrances to the Corning Towers. Days later, protesters confronted Pataki during his appearance in Henrietta (Monroe County) and challenged him to bring Betty Cranston -- and others in her situation -- home to their friends and families.

Cranston's plight became an example of why the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision -- a ruling that affirmed people's rights to be cared for in the most integrated or community-based setting of their choice -- needed to be followed in New York state, according to Brad Williams, Executive Director of the New York State Independent Living Council.

"Betty's ordeal was a high-profile situation that gained considerable public attention, was discussed a lot by state and federal officials, and prompted substantial progress towards a solution," Williams said.

This week, several people across the state who sought release from nursing homes but faced obstinate home administrators or a tangle of red tape, were released to go home, Williams said.



A long fight

David Cranston worked for 18 months to get his mother released from the nursing home -- Northeast Center for Special Care in Lake Katrine (Ulster Co.) -- which has been investigated by the state for patient abuse and neglect.

Cranston and officials from disabled advocacy agencies said they thought the nursing home officials were raising one obstacle after another to prevent her release and keeping her against her will for the Medicaid income. But Northeast Center officials said they merely protecting Betty Cranston's health and welfare.

While Cranston said he thought the nursing home officials were continuously demanding new requirements for release, the administrators contended they were just making sure home health care standards were met.

Thursday, David Cranston talked about how he had met one requirement after another, only to face a new mandate from nursing home officials, seemingly with no progress towards his mother's release. He arranged personnel for home health care, took respirator training, and devised comprehensive, detailed plans on how she'd be cared for, he recalled.

But the nursing home refused to release Betty Cranston or her health records.

Then after the demonstrations and the confrontation with Pataki, state health department officials visited Betty Cranston in the nursing home to assess her situation.

Days later, however, nursing home officials took substantial action towards her release while he worked to meet even more requirements -- a new entrance to the home he and his mom share with a ramp to the front door.

Shirley Dumont and Ted Galusha of the Glens Falls Independent Living Center have lobbied for Betty's release since fall 2001.



Warm reception

Wednesday, they welcomed her home with a celebratory banner and balloons. Neighbor Mary Davis brought her homemade macaroni and cheese and cornbread. Disc Jockey Lee Pecue of radio station WCKM broadcast "I'm coming home" by The Spinners as a tribute.

"It's been a long process, but I'm elated that now Shirley got her wish to come home," Dumont said after Betty Cranston's dog Mookie joyfully welcomed her home, barking and jumping.

"No one should have to go through the red tape Betty did," said Galusha, who had threatened to bring dozens of protesters to demonstrate at the nursing home if she weren't released by June.

Perhaps Betty has blazed a trail that will help others get out of nursing homes and go home where they want to be, Brad Williams said. His agency had filed a civil rights suit against the state on Cranston's behalf demanding that state officials help her get home.

State lawmakers are now drafting a law to force nursing homes and other institutions to meet the spirit of the Olmstead decision, he said, praising the Pataki administration's recent efforts on Betty's behalf.

State Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster Co.) has drafted a bill accomplishing these goals, Williams said, and it will be on the Assembly floor in June. Pataki could trump the law in the meantime with an executive order, Williams added.

"We're going to see more and more people released from institutions as each week goes by, and Betty started the whole process," Williams said.

But Wednesday, Cranston wasn't interested in changing the law.

She just wanted to make changes on the home front -- considering her son had been living alone in her home as a bachelor for almost three years.

"As soon as he goes to work, I'm going to change things around, clean up and redecorate," she said with a smile.